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BALTIMORE CITY WORKERS COMP ATTORNEY

Andrew M. Rodabaugh Esq.

Representing injured workers throughout Baltimore City. Whether you were injured working on your construction job in the Highlandtown or hurt while rushing through your office in Downtown Baltimore Attorney Rodabaugh is available to help. Workers Compensation claims are guided by state law however there are a few distinctions between, say Harford County residents, and Baltimore City residents injured at work. When administrative hearings are held for injured Baltimore City residents they will likely take place at the Baltimore City Workers Compensation Commission. On ocassion Baltimore City residents are required to attend a hearing at one of the other commission locations. If a workers compensation case is appealed to the Circuit Court the proper venue will likely be in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City. Mr. Rodabaugh regularly handles hundreds of workers compensation cases at the Administrative level as well as cases throughout the Circuit Courts of Maryland. As a Baltimore City workers comp attorney he is ready to help you in your case!

You can speak with Baltimore City workers comp attorney Andrew M. Rodabaugh for a FREE consultationCall , Click to email or just fill out the form at the bottom of the page and Mr. Rodabaugh will contact you!

Here is a sampling of Baltimore City Workers Compensation Claims Mr. Rodabaugh has handled.

Carpenter injured his neck attempting to ascend a ladder onto the roof of a job site. He ended up requiring a cervical fusion and extensive medical treatment. He case went on to have a value of well over $100,000.

Roofer strained his neck and shoulder. Treatment consisted of a course of physical therapy. Baltimore City workers comp attorney Mr. Rodabaugh recovered $9,000 for him at a workers compensation hearing.

Maintenance man operating his work truck was involved in a motor vehicle collision resulting in a back and neck injury. Baltimore City workers compensation attorney Mr. Rodabaugh was able to fight to get medical treatment authorized as well as help recover over $40,000 in benefits.

Landscaper fell while performing his job and injured his right knee. A course of physical therapy was obtained and a steroid injection was provided. The injured worker had amassed a large medical bill that he was unable to pay for out of pocket and health insurance was not being provided by the employer. Mr. Rodabaugh was able to get the workers compensation insurer to pay the medical bills and also obtain a settlement for his client over $15,000.

A hospital technician fell and sprained her back and shoulder. Treatment obtained was minimal consisting of less than 10 physical therapy appointments over the course of 2 months. A hearing before the Workers Compensation Commission was held and resulted in a payout that left the injured worker in a difficult position financially. After appealing the case an addition $8,000 was recovered for the injured worker.

Regardless of the rights that are provided to injured workers by law on a regular occasion the workers compensation insurance company refuses to provide these benefits. This is when the zealous and experienced representation of Baltimore City workers compensation Attorney Andrew M. Rodabaugh is needed! Whether you are being denied your rights or if you have questions or concerns we are available for a free consultation.

Right to a Hearing– Should the workers compensation adjuster deny a benefit to which the injured worker is entitled the injured worker may request a hearing before the Maryland Workers Compensation Commission. Again, for Baltimore City residents the hearing will likely take place in Baltimore City. It is important the injured worker make their best effort to obtain a Baltimore City workers compensation attorney to represent them at the hearing and in the case.

Temporary Total Disability (Lost Wages)– If an injured worker is not able to perform the duties of their occupation because of a work injury then the workers compensation insurer is responsible to pay lost wages. These payments are in the amount 66% of the gross average wage of the injured worker. As of 2017 these payments are not taxed. The average weekly wage is determined by the 14 weeks of pay just before the accident. If there are not 14 weeks of pay history then the payments that were made are averaged out to determine the average weekly wage. In order for the injured worker to qualify for lost wages the injured worker must have a doctor indicate in writing they are not able to work because of the work accident. Baltimore City workers comp attorney Rodabaugh regularly represents injured workers at hearing in Baltimore City.

Permanency or Settlement– Once medical treatment has concluded and the injured worker has been discharged from their treating physician they may be entitled to permanency compensation or a settlement with workman’s comp. If the injured Baltimore City resident remains symptomatic after the treatment has concluded he or she is entitled to a permanency award which a Baltimore City workers comp attorney can help obtain. In order to obtain a permanency award a rating must be performed by a qualified physician. There are limited number of qualified rating physicians in the state of Maryland and especially Baltimore City. Extra care should be taken not to select an unqualified or insurance oriented rating doctor.

Vocational Rehabilitation– Unfortunately there are injuries that leave the injured worker unable to return to their previous line of employment. Under Maryland law these individuals become entitled to vocational rehabilitation benefits. The core purpose of the Voc Rehab process is to get the injured worker back to work in some capacity making as close to the same wages they were making prior to the work accident. The new job must also be within their physical restrictions. Successful placements are referred to obtaining suitable, gainful, employment. For those who take some form of pay cut this often leads to increased permanency compensation or increased settlement value.

Paid Medical Treatment– One of the most coveted benefits under Maryland workers compensation law is that the injured worker is entitled to paid medical treatment for life as long as the nature and extent of the injury so demands. A qualified Baltimore City workers comp attorney will know how to secure the future medical treatment. Minor injuries will not require lifetime medical treatment and attempts to obtain further medical treatment in minor cases often fail. However, in the more severe cases which often require surgery the right to medical treatment can be very important to some injured workers, especially those with inadequate health insurance or no health insurance. While medical treatment is a right provided under Maryland law, this right is balanced with the workers compensation insurance companies right to fight the medical treatment which often leads to the necessity of a workers comp hearing.

Do I have to notify my employer of the injury? Maryland law does require the injured worker provide notice to the employer or supervisor within 10 days of the accident however this is not a rule without exceptions. Unless the employer is prejudiced by the lack of notice then it is often extended. There are a number of statutory deadlines that exist in Maryland laws the injured worker must be aware of or else they may lose all rights under their case.

Should I hire a Baltimore City workers compensation attorney? There is truly no need to focus on hiring a local attorney for representation as there are numerous ways to communicate electronically, but most communication can also be processed through the mail system. Whether hiring an attorney is necessary- As a Baltimore City workers comp attorney of course I say yes. Here is a list of the reasons to hire a workers comp attorney. It is a confusing process that can be simplified greatly by letting an attorney handle the matter.

Can I just use health insurance for my treatment? Very often injured workers use their health insurance for workers comp matters. The risk by doing this can be devastating however. The use of health insurance can lead to unpaid bills, rescinded payments, and unpaid balances which do on occasion exceed just a few thousand dollars. Other risks of using health insurance is that it may lead to irreparable harm to the workers compensation claim and damage any future rights.

How long until I can settle my case or take my case to permanency? Each and every case is different in terms of settlement. Some settle within a couple months of the accident, while it is necessary for other cases to go on for years before settlement. Permanency compensation (I often refer to as a mini settlement) can be obtained once the injured worker has been discharged from care and there are no plans to get active treatment. Permanency is often favored because the right to medical treatment remains open. Depending on the Baltimore City workers comp attorney chosen, the case may take longer or shorter to settle.

Can I change jobs while going through workers comp? Changing jobs ordinarily does not have a great impact on the workers comp case but this is something that should be discussed with an attorney before pursuing as vocational rehabilitation rights may be affected, as well as lost wage payments. Note though, changing jobs does not end the right to workers compensation benefits and the case continues.

Let Baltimore City workers comp attorney Andrew M. Rodabaugh fight to get you the treatment you need if workers comp denies it!

If you have been involved in a work injury in Maryland there is a chance that getting treatment authorized may be difficult from the very beginning of the case. The good news is that ordinarily the initial medical consultation will be paid for by workers comp. Further, in the event of a catastrophic accident continued treatment will be authorized for a while.

It is ordinarily those injuries that are not immediately noticeable that fall under scrutiny by the workers comp adjuster especially in cases involving ligament or soft tissue damages there may be delays in authorization of the medical treatment. The adjuster may approve an initial visit but when further treatment is ordered such as physical therapy, injections, or surgery authorization may become difficult to ascertain.

There are many reasons why workers comp may have denied your treatment, or may not be responding to the doctors who are requesting the medical treatment authorization. For the injured worker this can be the most frustrating experience for them because they simply want to get better and go back to work. As a Baltimore City workers comp lawyer Mr. Rodabaugh regularly fights to get treatment authorized. Here are some common explanations as to why treatment was not authorized:

Failure to communicate

A very common cause of delays in obtaining treatment authorization is simply a breakdown in communication. A good majority of workers comp adjusters are overworked and are not able to timely respond to treatment requests. Weeks can go buy without a return phone call or communication of any kind. This is not acceptable and it may be necessary for the injured worker to obtain a Baltimore City Workers Comp lawyer in order to move the case forward. If the adjuster is intentionally refusing to communicate that may be an indication there will be further delays.

Prior to approving treatment the workers comp insurer is entitled to obtain a second opinion or Independent Medical Evaluation (IME). If the adjuster is planning on scheduling an IME or has already scheduled an IME treatment may be delayed until after the IME report is obtained. Most of the time these IME opinions come from a select few doctors in the state of Maryland who have limited availability for appointments. This means that the IME may be scheduled out a month or more in the future. If the IME opinion indicates no treatment is necessary the adjuster will deny treatment. It is at this point that a Baltimore City Workers Comp Attorney should be involved. The injured worker may have to wait months for a hearing and subsequent decision by the Workers Compensation Commission.

Necessary documentation may be required

Most authorizations for medical treatment will only come after the medical records are obtained and reviewed by the assigned case manager. Adjusters will require the medical report which prescribes the treatment so that they can review and ensure the treatment being prescribed is related to the accident at work. While this on its face does not seem like much of an obstacle some medical reports are not generated immediately and may take sometime before they become available which leads to the injured worker having to wait for further treatment authorization.

Medical Expenses are increasing

If the treatment being recommended is getting increasingly costly the case manager may be starting to “adjuster” the file. It is the workers compensation adjusters job to keep costs down. If denying continued physical therapy or surgery will potentially reduce costs then that is precisely what the adjuster will do.

You can speak with Baltimore City workers comp attorney Andrew M. Rodabaugh for a FREE consultation Call , Click to email or just fill out the form at the bottom of the page and Mr. Rodabaugh will contact you!

Baltimore City workers compensation attorney Andrew M. Rodabaugh represents injured workers in their workers compensation cases throughout the city including but not limited to the following areas:

I needed a lawyer for my workers compensation case. I was referred to Mr. Rodabaugh. I was very nervous about the case, and a little overwhelmed. Mr. Rodabaugh took extra time to talk to me (lots of questions he answered over the phone) and explained step by step of how everything worked. He was very confident, and made me feel comfortable with my case and decision. I highly recommend Mr. Rodabaugh.

Five Stars

L.F.Technician

Mr. Rodabaugh is a valuable asset to his community. His continuing dedication to the law and his clients is admirable.

Adam SPersonal Injury Attorney

I endorse Mr. Rodabaugh. He is a true asset to our legal community. Very helpful on Avvo and a great e [sic] in the field.

Mark C.Immigration Attorney

Mr. Rodabaugh exemplifies the best in our profession. he is a caring, dedicated, highly regarded, and widely respected attorney. With Andrew as your advocate you are in excellent hands. I endorse this lawyer.

Jeff GPersonal Injury Attorney

Mr. Rodabaugh was a professional and courteous attorney who had my best interest in mind when handling my case. I would highly recommend him to anyone in need of Workers Comp. Counsel.

5 starts!

David B.

I endorse this lawyer. Mr. Rodabaugh provides accurate answers that reflect the type of representation that he is able to provide.

Francis YWrongful Death Attorney

My experience with the law firm of Cohen and Dwin was very professional. Mr Rodabaugh was very kind and easy to talk to in a very professional manner. The receptionists were helpful in guiding me through the procedures. I would definitely recommend Mr Rodabaugh in the future.

David B.CosmotologistBaltimore

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WEBSITE DISCLAIMER THIS PAGE IS ADVERTISEMENT MATERIAL
Baltimore City workers comp attorney Andrew M. Rodabaugh and his office offers information about Personal Injury law and Baltimore Workers Comp attorney representation for informational purposes only. Nothing contained herein constitutes formal legal advice. If you need the advice of a Maryland workers compensation lawyer, or wish to discuss workers comp attorney fees please contact him today. He has offices throughout the state and various convenient meeting locations. Each and every case needs to be evaluated before legal advice can be provided. Under no circumstance should the information on this website be considered medical advice. This is an attorney’s website and is not affiliated with any government agency or government entity of any kind.

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